The paddy grown in marshy land, dry land and others were on display. In fact, farmers were seen thronging to the venue to collect details on the same and asking the stall owners to send them the seeds. The stall has 140 varieties of paddy.
They were divided into five groups, viz., paddy which has good smell, paddy for dry land, paddy for irrigated land, paddy for medicinal purposes and paddy which can withstand excess water.
The farmers from Shimoga, Uttara Kannada, Chikmagalur districts were seen collecting details on Burma black (a paddy which is used for payasam only), Mysore mallige paddy which provides yield of 30 quintal per acre.
Andolana convener Shanthakumar said that farmers in Kadur were growing ‘Saalu bhatta’ earlier which can be grown in those areas which receives scanty rainfall. However, the paddy variety is extinct now. “If it is developed, then all farmers can reap good yield,” he said.
Published 20 February 2010, 16:58 IST